|
 |
|
BIRDIE TEBBETTS w/BILLY GOODMAN |
BOSTON RED SOX ...
THE
CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 3
A
SUBWAY SERIES DISAPPEARS ...
Vern Stephens'
four-for-four
helps Ellis Kinder
August 28, 1948
... Ellis Kinder kept seven Chicago White Sox
hits scattered, as he hurled the Red Sox to a 6 to 2 triumph, under a
broiling sun, before 10,000 fans at Fenway Park. Vern Stephens showed
that he was well conditioned for the heat as he slapped out four
hits, facing a 13 hit attack on three Chicago pitchers. The Red Sox
increased their league leadership to 1 1/2 games, with the Yankees moving into
second place thanks to a ninth inning rally against the Indians, who are now in
third, two games from the top.
Kinder was belted for four hits in the first two innings, but slick fielding
helped him. He pitched hitless ball over the next five innings, but lost a
shutout in the eighth as the White Sox picked up a couple of unearned runs.
Bill Wight, a young lefty, who had two early season decisions over the Red
Sox, was given a good pasting. Before he was finally removed for a pinch-hitter,
the Red Sox had scored five runs against him.
The Sox scored two times in the first inning as Dom DiMaggio walked, Johnny
Pesky and Ted Williams both singled in succession to score DiMaggio. The first
of Stephens' two hits brought Pesky across and a walk to Bobby Doerr loaded the
bases with none out. Wight toughened up and struck out Stan Spence and Billy
Goodman, with Birdie Tebbetts hitting a fly ball for the third out.
The third, and eventual winning run, was scored by the Sox in the second
inning. With one out, DiMaggio singled and Pesky walked. Williams lined a
vicious line drive straight at Ralph Hodgin for the second out, but then
Stephens ripped a single into left to bring DiMaggio home.
In the fourth, DiMaggio opened with a single, but Pesky forced him at second.
After Williams hit another line drive out, Stephens knocked one off the
left-field fence for a double. Pesky was held up at third-base but then Pat
Seerey threw the ball to second and pesky was sent home by third coach Del Baker
on the throw.
Up 4 to 0, Billy Goodman's single and Tebbetts' long double to center, scored
another run in the fifth. The sixth run came in the sixth inning on consecutive
doubles by Stephens and Doerr. That run was against reliever Glenn Moulder.
Kinder was moving along toward his second shutout of the season as he retired
the first two White Sox batters in the eighth. But then Floyd Baker rolled one
down the Goodman, to the right at first base. Kinder raced over to the bag to
grab the toss, but Goodman threw it past him and it went into the Red Sox
dugout. Ellis then permitted three straight singles and a fly ball out to
DiMaggio that ended the inning. He set down the side, in order, during the ninth
inning, for his sixth win.
Stephens' perfect day enabled him to pick up six points on his batting
average, which is now at .289. His two RBIs, regained him the league leadership,
as he went ahead of Joe DiMaggio with 114. His four hits gave him the club
leadership with 142. |
.jpg)
